Display device for rugs and the like



Oct. 26, 1954 A H, BEST 2,692,687

DISPLAY DEVICE FOR RUGS AND THE LIKE Filed OCT.. 22, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet1 L. H. BEST DISPLAY DEVICE FOR RUGS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filedr Oct. 22, 1949 0d. 26, 1954 1 H. BEST DISPLAY DEVICE FOR RUG S ANDTHE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001'.. 22, 1949 ct. 26, 1954 H BESTDISPLAY DEVICE FOR RUGS AND THE LIKE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 er? fol/'l' 60741:M 5652i- Fled OCT.. 22. 1 949 @Z2/gata M Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY DEVICE FOR BUGS AND THE LIKE Leon H. Best,Galva., Ill., assignor to John H. Best & Sons, Inc., Galva, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Application October 22, 1949, Serial No. 123,038

8 Claims.

apparatus embodying the features of the invention, the device beingshown with several rugs clamped in display position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the device shown in Fig. 1, with the device inan unloaded condition and with the clamp bar removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line3--3 of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken subpended from an elaborateover-hanging rack Starltally alOllg the line 4--4 0f Fig 3; structure,while in accordance with another ex- Fig. 5 is a fragmental Viewillustrating the way pedient the rugs have been stacked flat on the irlWhich the Clamp bar iS Operated;

floor in a horizontal position. The present in- Fig. 6 is a fragmentalt0n plan VeW Of a p0rvention relates to display devices wherein the tOn0f the Clamp bar Operating means;

rugs are displayed in a generally horizontal posi- Flg- 'l 1S a DlarlView 0f the frame Strneture tion, and in accordance with the present in-0f the display device, the View being taken parvention, the rugs may bemounted upon a distially in seCtOn alOng the line l-l 0f Fig. 3; playdevice which is of such a character that it Fg- 8 i5 a iragmentalVertical Sectional View presents an attractive appearance and is capabletaken Substantially alOng the line 3-3 Of Fig. 7; 0f holding andClamping widely dierng num- 20 Fig. 9 iS a fragmental Vertical SectionalView bers 0f display rugs in a, stack 0n the display taken substalltallyalOIig the line 9--9 O Figs. 7 device. and 8;

Another important object of the present inven- Fg- 10 iS an enlargedragmental DOrtOn 0f tion is to afford a display platform for relativelyFg- 7, a pOltOn 0f the Structure being brOken large rugs so that suchplatform may readily be away to illustrate details of internalstructure; assembled in a display room, and which, upon Fig. 11 is afragmental Vertical sectional view assembly, is attractive in itsappearance. A retaken Substantially along the line Il-Il 0f lated objectis to enable the requisite structural Fg- 7; strength to be attained ina display device of the Fg- 12 iS a t0n-Plan View 0f one 0f the rearaforesaid character by means that are fully conleg StruCtureS; geaiedwhen the display device is in use Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional viewtaken sub- Another object of the present invention is to stentieliyalong the line i3-i3 of Fig. 12; and facilitate the clamping of the rugsin position Fig- 14 iS a frOnt eleVatiOnal VeW 0f the leg on such adisplay device, thereby to enable rugs Structure ShOWIl in FgS- 12 and13, the View beto be removed from or added to a stack of rugs lng takenfrOln the left in Fg- 13- that may have been mounted on such a device,FOI' DurDOSeS Of dSClOSure, the invention iS and a ragged Object is toenable the effective herein illustrated as embodied in a display rackmechanical elements of suchaclamping arrange- 253 having a suppOrtingplatform 2| of a Size ment to be concealed Within portions of the sup-Somewhat larger than the drrleIlSOIlS 0f a pluporting Structure. 40rality of rugs R that are to be carried and dis- Other and furtherobjects of the present inplayed in a Stack on the platform 2|, and thevention will be apparent from the following de- DlatOrm 2l iS Supportedat tS @OrrlerS by a Pair scriptum and claims and are illustrated in the0f front les assemblies 22, and a pair 0f rear leg accompanying drawingswhich, by way of illusassemblies 23, the rear leg assemblies beingsometration, show a preferred embodiment and the What higher than thefront leg assemblies so that principles thereof and what I now considerto the platform slOlUeS gradually dOWnWardly in a be the best mode inwhich I have contemplated fOrWard dreCtOn. The rugs R are disposed 0napplying those principles. Other embodiments the platform 2| in astacked position such that of the invention embodying the same orequivthe rear edges thereof extend over an anti-slip alent principlesmay be used and structural Cleat 24 and beneath a clamp bar 25, theclamp changes may be made as desired by those skilled bar being drawndownwardly by means of clamp in the art without departing from thepresent Operating deVCe 25, as Will be hereinafter eX- invention and thepurview of the appended plained, to thereby clamp the rear edges of theclaims, rugs downwardly against the anti-slip cleat 2li.

In the drawings: The present display device 2D is intended and Fig. 1 isa perspective view of a rug display adapted to serve as a supporting anddisplaying means for relatively large numbers of large size rugs thatare stacked thereon and clamped in position by the clamp bar 25, and inorder that adequate structural strength may be aorded in the displaydevice 20, this display device is provided with a sectional underframe33 to which the leg structures 22 and 23 are secured, and thisunderframe 3U is covered and concealed about its edges by what may betermed a decorative covering structure 32.

The frame structure 3G is best shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 and comprises apair of side frame sections 35 and 36 and a pair of end frame sections37 and 38, these sections 35 to 38 being arranged in plan-form so as tobe of trapezoidal form so that the four sections may be secured togetherto aord a frame structure 3G that is rectangular in its general outline,as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. In aording the several frames 35 to38, use is made of angle iron elements that are cut and bent to form,and secured together, as will be described in detail, to aord the fourseparate trapezoidal frame sections which may thereafter be boltedtogether in a relatively simple manner when the display device 2E) is tobe assembled or erected in a sales room.

Thus, with respect to the frame section 3G, an inner frame element 38-iis formed from angle iron and has similar iron members mitered andwelded to its ends to afford diver-ging end members 38-2 and 38-3 whichform the end members of the trapezoidal frame section 38. At its otherside and parallel to the frame element (iS-i, the frame section 38 has aside member 38-3 that is also formed from angle iron, and this elementis secured at its ends to the ends of the frame elements 38-2 and 38-3,respectively. Such association is attained by cutting the ends of themembers 38-2 and 38-3 at an angle as indicated at 46 in Fig. 7, so thatthese horizontal franges may butt against the adjacent side edge oi thehorizontal ange of the side member 38-6, and below the horizontalflanges of the related members, connecting angles 62 are extended indirections perpendicular to the respective members 33-2 and 38-3. Eachsuch connecting member 42 is formed from angle iron and is disposed withits horizontal ange parallel to but disposed downwardly from thehorizontal flanges of the members 38-2, 38-3 and 38-li, Figs. *7, 8 and9, and the ends of these members 42 are welded to the vertical flangesof the related members of the frame as at 43. Thus, one of theconnecting members 42 rigidly associates one end or the member 38-4 withthe member 38-3, while the other connecting member 42 rigidly associatesthe other end of the member 33-4 with the member 33-2, and this isaccomplished in such a way that the horizontal flanges of the members23S-l, 38-2, 33-3 and 38-4 are in a common plane. The members Q2 serve,as will hereinafter be described, in associating the leg structures withthe frame St.

Parallel to the member 38-4, another angle iron structural member 38-5is extended vbetween the members 38-2 and 38-3, and this member 38-5 hasits horizontal flange cut at an angle as at dit so as to butt againstthe respective members 38-2 and 38-3, and the member 38-5 is connectedto these members by welding. The vertical flanges of the members 38-4and 38-5 are connected together adjacent opposite ends thereof bytransverse angle iron members 38-6, and at their mid points, the members33-4 and 38-5 are connected by an angle iron member 38-1, thesetransverse connecting members being associated with the parallel framemembers 38-4 and 321-5 by disposing these transverse members beneath thehorizontal flanges of the parallel members and extending the transversemembers so as to engage the vertical flanges of the parallel members.The ends of the transverse members are then welded to the verticalmembers.

The transverse angle 33-1 has a downwardly extending bar 38-8 xedthereto as by welding, and a truss rod 32-9 is extended through anopening in the bar 38-3 as will be evident in Fig. 3 of the drawings,and the ends of this truss rod are extended gradually upwardly andthrough openings in the vertical flanges of the transverse members 38-6.Anchoring nuts t6 are threaded onto the ends of the truss rod 38-9 sothat the truss rod serves to impart adequate strength 'to the edgeportion of the frame 38 even though the leg structures are disposed atwidely spaced points. In alignment with the transverse member 38-1,another transverse member Sil-H] is extended between the members SS-land 38-5, this member 38-] also being an angle iron and being welded tothe members 38-l and 33-5.

The frame section 3l is formed in precisely the same way as hereinabovedescribed in respect to the frame section 38, and correspondingstructural elements are identified by the reference character 31 with anumerical suiix that corresponds to the same structural element in theframe section 38, it being noted that similar connecting angle bars l2are employed in the same relationship.

The frame 35 is also formed in the same gcneral manner as the frames 3land 38, and where substantially identical structure is utilized, thecorresponding parts are identied by the reference character 33 with anappropriate numerical suffix corresponding to the related part in theframes 3? and 38. Thus, the frame section 36 has an element 35S-i formedfrom angle iron and is connected at its ends to members S3-2 and SS-l,and these members 36-2 and 36-3 are connected by parallel angle ironmembers .3E-4 and 33-5 that are associated with the members 353-2 and36-3 by the same means as hereinbefore described with respect to theframe sections 3l' and 33, it .being noted that connecting angles (r2are also employed in this instance. The parallel members 36-4 and 36-5are connected by transverse members 38-6 near the ends thereof, and onopposite sides of the mid point of the frame section, these parallelmembers are also connected by a pair of spaced transverse members 33-1,each of which has a downwardly extending bar 38-3 secured thereto as bywelding. A truss rod 36-9 is extended through the bars 355-3 and throughthe Vertical flanges of the transverse members 38-8, and nuts 46 arefixed on the ends of the truss rod so as to impart strength to the sidestructure of the frame member 35. Between the two transverse members36-1, an additional transverse member 33-I4 is also utilized whileadditional transverse members 36|5 and .3E-6 are extended between themembers 33-6 and 33-5 just to the left of the left-hand member 36-1, andjust to the right of the right-hand member 36-l'. Additional strutmembers formed from angle iron are also provided and are identied asmembers 33-Il', 36E-I8 and Sli-I9, these members being extended betweenthe members 36-l and 36-5 in alignment with the members 35i-K4, BS-I 5and Sli-I6, respectively. These additional transverse members aresecured in place in the same manner as the strut members 3840 and 3140.On the other side of the frame element 354, mounting angles 35-21, 36-22and 36-23 are secured to the vertical flange of the member 364 'so as toextend for a short distance in alignment with the respective strutmembers 3541, 3548 and 3649, and the spacing of these several members issuch that the member 36-2l is disposed at the mid point of the member364, while the members 36-22 and 36-23 are disposed substantially at thequarter-points of the member 354.

The frame section 35 is formed substantially like the frame section 36but is in effect reversed so that it may form the left-hand side sectionof the frame 3U, and corresponding reference characters constituting thenumeral 35 with an appropriate numerical suix are applied tocorresponding elements.

It will :be observed that the several trapezoidal frame sections 35, 36,31 and 38 may be fitted together to form a rectangular frame, and thevarious angular end members of these trapezoidal frame sections ttogether with the vertical flanges thereof in a face to face relation,and these vertical anges are provided with aligned holes through whichfastening bolts 58 may be extended so that associated nuts may be placedon the fastening bolts to secure the frame sec-v tions together. Afterthis has been done, addi.- tional transverse support members 51, 52 and53 are extended between the frame sections 35 and 35, these membersbeing made made from angle iron and being placed on top of the oppositesupporting members such as the members 35-2i and 36-2I. When sopositioned, each of these transverse members has one of its angesdisposed in the plane that is common to the horizontal anges of themembers 354 and 354, and these transverse members are secured inposition by securing bolts 54 that are extended through the verticalflanges of these transverse members and the projecting supportingelements.

It will be noted that the frame element 354 has a pair of anchoringsockets 35e-25 fixed on its vertical flange at spaced points as shown inFig. '7, and similar sockets 35-26 are disposed in correspondinglocations on the frame element 354, and these sockets serve to positionthe upper ends of adjustable legs 554 and 55-2 that are engaged withthese sockets at their upper ends and which have adjustable screwstructures at their lower ends so that additional support may beafforded for the frame sections in concealed locations and spaced fromthe outer side edges thereof. A similar mounting socket 3843 is xed onthe member 3840 so that a concealed adjustable leg structure `55-3 maybe similarly associated with the frame section 38.

The front leg structures 22 and the rear leg structures '23 are somewhatsimilar in form, and for purposes of disclosure, the rear leg structures23 will first be described. Thus, the rear leg structures 23 each embodythree vertical legs 23A, 23B and 23C, and these two leg structures aresusbtantially similar but are formed as right and left-hand legstructures, respectively. In Figs. 11 to 14, the right-hand rear legstructure 23 is disclosed, and it will be noted that this leg structurehas an angular bottom plate 50 and an angular top plate 6|. The threelegs 23A, 23B and 23C are each arranged to embody an inner tubularmember 62 which actually connects and forms the load supporting elementbetween the two plates 5U and 6l and an outer decorative tubular member63 which merely serves as an enclosure for the inner tubular member 62.In affording the desired connection for the upper and lower ends of thelegs 23A and 23B, a plu. rality of relatively small holes 64 areprovided so as to be substantially aligned with the inner surface of theinner supporting tubular member 62, and the ends of the tubular memberG2 are butted against the opposed surface of the plates 6l) and 5l andare welded thereto as at 65 by application of the welding materialthrough the openings 54. It will be noted, of course, that thedecorative tubular member 63 is in position when the final weldingoperation at one end of the inner leg member 62 takes place.

It will be observed that the display platform 20 is somewhat higher atits rear end than it is at its forward end, and therefore, the legs 23Aand 23B are somewhat higher than the leg 23C. Therefore, the upper endsof all of the inner legs 62 are cut at an angle so that the upper plate6l may slope downwardly in a forward direction at an angle correspondingto the desired slope of the display platform 20.

In mounting the forward leg 23C', the lower end of the inner tubularmember 62 is connected to the lower plate 6U in the same manner as abovedescribed with respect to the other two legs, but at the upper end ofthe leg 23C it will be observed that the plate 6I has a circular opening61 formed therein that is somewhat smaller than the internal diameter ofthe inner tubular member 62 and which has a plurality of lateralextensions 64E that correspond in location to the location of the holes64. Thus, the upper end of the tubular member 64 may be welded as at 55to the plate 5l in substantially the same manner as the other two legs.The leg 23C' in each instance serves to house a portion of the clampingstructure whereby the clamp bar 25 may be tightened. Thus, an elongatedscrew 10 is extended axially down through the opening 61 and theinternal tubular member 62, and at its lower end the screw 1D isextended into an opening 1I formed in the lower plate 5i). The lower endof the screw 1B is thus exposed within the hole 1i, and welding materialis applied as at 12 from the lower face of the plate 5U so as to securethe screw 10 non-rotatively in the desired axial relationship within theleg 23C. The clamping device 25 is aiforded by an elongated tubularmember 15 that extends downwardly through the clamp bar 25 and theopening 61 and into the leg 23C in surrounding relation to the screw 10.This tubular member 'l5 has an inwardly extended nut structure 15N atits lower end that is threaded onto the screw 15 so that by rotation ofthe tubular member 15, the vertical position of the member 15 may beadjusted on and with relation to the screw 10.

It will be observed that the clamp bar 25 is in the present instance inthe form of a square tubular member that is closed at its ends, andadjacent to these ends suitable openings are provided in the top andbottom walls of the clamp bar 25 so that the tubular member 15 may beprojected downwardly therethrough. At its upper end, the tubular member15 has a collar 15C disposed in surrounding relationship thereto, andthis collar is fixed in place by a transverse drive pin 15P that extendsdiametrically across the open upper end of the tubular member 15 so thatthis pin 15P may be utilized in applying the desired rotative force tothe tubular member 15. It will be observed that an anti-friction WasherW is disposed between the collar 15C and the clamp bar 25. The sleeve 15may conveniently be rotated by means of an operating tool T thatcomprises an axial sleeve 18 that is slotted upwardly from its lower endas at 19, and a transverse operating handle 80 is secured as by weldingacross the upper end of the tubular element 18. This tubular element 18is of such a size that it may be inserted downwardly into the tubularmember 15, thereby to dispose the pin 15P within the transverse slot 19of the tool T, and the tubular member 15 may thus be rotated so as toapply releasing or clamping movements to the clamp bar 25. When the toolT is removed, the open upper end of the tubular member may beattractively concealed by means of a cap 82 that has a slotted tubularextension 83 which extends downwardly into the upper end of the tubularmember 15 and about the transverse pin 15P, such cap being shown inFigs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The front leg structures 22 are also formed as right-hand and left-handmembers and embody upper and lower plates in the same general way as therear leg structures 23, with the exception, however, that the legs 22Aand 22B of each structure are located at the forward or lower end of theleg structure. The leg 22C is, accordingly, located at the rear end ofeach leg structure 22, and all three of the legs of each leg structure22 are formed in the same manner as the legs 23A and 23B.

It will be observed in Figs. l2, 13, and 14 that the top plate 6| has apair of openings S5 formed therein, and when a leg structure 23 is to beassociated with the frame 30, these openings 85 are aligned withappropriately placed openings formed in the horizontal anges of theconnecting angles 32. Bolts 86 are then extended down through theopenings in the angles 42 and through the openings 85 in the plate 6|,and a nut 81 is threaded onto the lower end of each bolt 86. Thissecures the leg structure 23 against the lower faces of the horizontalfianges of the two angles 42 that are provided in each corner of theframe structure 39. In this respect, it should be observed that thevertical ilanges of the frame elements 38-2 and 38-3 are somewhatshorter than the vertical flanges of the outer frame members such as theframe members 38-ll, and the horizontal flanges of the connecting angles42 are disposed in substantial alignment with lower edges of thevertical flanges of the members such as the members 38-3. Thisrelationship is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 and enables the plate 6| toextend beneath the members 38-3 while at the same time engaging theangles 42 in a supporting relationship.

The preferred procedure so far as the setting up of the structural frame3|) is concerned will be explained in some detail hereinafter, and afterthe framework 3B has been set up in the place in which the displaydevice is to be used, the decorative covering frame 32 is put intoposition. As shown in Figs. l to 4 of the drawings, this coveringframework 32 comprises left and right side frame elements 95 and 95 andfront and back frame elements 91 and 98, and these frame elements aremade from wood and are arranged to be disposed over or on top of theouter border portions of the frame sections 35 to 3B, inclusive. It willbe noted that opposite ends of the frame members 95 and 96 have dowels99 disposed therein so as to extend beyond the ends of these framemembers, and these dowels 99 are arranged to extend into the side edgepositions of the frame members 91 and 98, respectively, to assureaccurate matching of these frame elements along the side edges of thedisplay device.

Each of the frame elements 95 to 98 is provided with a downwardlyextending skirt or apron, and these aprons are identified by the samereference character as the frame member to which they are attached, asuix A being added in each instance. Each such apron is arranged toextend downwardly from the lower surface of the frame member to which itis attached, and such attachment is accomplished by means such as screws|09 which, as shown in Fig. 9, extend vertically upwardly through theapron member and into the lower surface of the related frame or covermember. It will be observed in Fig. 8 of the drawings that the apron 98Aextends downwardly for a distance sufficient to completely cover andconceal the vertical flange of the outer frame member 38-4, and thissame relation obtains in respect to the other apron members 95A to 91A.

The several frame members 95 to 98 are secured in position by means ofscrews |02 that are extended downwardly through the several frame orcover elements adjacent to the inner edges thereof. These screws arepreferably of the selftapping type and are arranged to pass downwardlyinto suitably positioned openings |03 that are formed in the inner frameelements 35-5 to 38-5, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

In addition to the fastening that is thus afforded, the skirt members95A to 98A are secured at several points to the vertical flange membersthat are concealed thereby. Thus, as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings,screws |04 are extended horizontally through the aprons 96A and 91A andinto the vertical flanges of the frame elements 36-4 and 31-4, thesescrews also being of a self -tapping type so that they may be screwedinto openings formed in such flanges. It will be observed that screws|02 are related inwardly in such amount that when rugs R are of theproper size for the display device and are put into the positionthereon, the screws |02 will be concealed beneath such rugs R.

The space between the frame members 95 to 9B is covered by a pluralityof relatively large panels |96 that extend transversely across the frame30 so as to completely fill the space between the bordering frameelements 95 to 98, and these panels |95 are held in position byselftapping screws |01 that extend downwardly through such panels andare threaded into spaced openings |08 formed in the horizontal flangesof the members 35-5 to 38-5 as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

It should be observed that the flanges of the frame members 35-4 and38-4 are cut away so as to afford clearance for the clamping sleeves ortubular members 15, and that corresponding openings |09 are formed inthe cover members 95 and 96, so that these tubular members 15 may extendupwardly through these cover members. In Figs. l and 4 it will beobserved that a concealing plate l0 of relatively small size is put inposition about each of the tubular members 15, and this enables agreater clearance to be used at the points where the members 15 passthrough the cover members 95 and 96.

When it is desired to assemble the display device of the presentinvention, the leg structures 22 and 23 are secured in the properposition on the two side frame sections 35 and 36, and the supplementallegs 55-I and 55-2 are put into position on these frames. By thisprocedure, the two side frame sections 35 and 36 are renderedself-supporting and these frame sections may then be put in the desiredspace-relationship with respect to each other, and the two end frames 3land 3'8 may be successively put into place and secured to the frame 35and 35 by means of the fastening bolts 5i). rI he supplemental leg 55-3may then be put into position and the transverse struts 5l to 53 may besecured in position by the fastening bolts 5G. The frame is then incondition for fastening of the upper or cover frame 32 thereon, and thismay then be done in the manner hereinbefore described. The displaydevice 20 is then in condition to have rugs R mounted in positionthereon, and this is done by arranging the rugs R in a stack on thedisplay device with the upper edges of the rugs extending upwardly overand beyond the antislip cleat 2li which is secured to the rear one ofthe panels 06. The clamp bar 25 is then put in position, and the tubularclamping sleeves 'l5 are inserted downwardly through the openings in theclamp bar and into position about the screws l0. The operating tool Tthen may be applied tothe sleeves 'l5 so as to move the sleevesdownwardly in an amount suflicient to clamp the rugs against theplatform and the anti-slip cleat 24. When the rugs are in this position,the salesman may fold the rugs rearwardly as required to properlydisplay the successive rugs carried on the display device, and whenthese rugs are returned to their flat relationship, the clamping actionof the clamping bar 25 assures that the rugs will be returned to theproper relationship on the display device.

In practice it is found that in many instances it is unnecessary toremove the sleeves 'l5 and the clamp bar 25 when rugs are being mountedon the device, since it is possible to insert the rear edge of a rugbeneath the clamp bar 25, while the clamp bar is held in an elevatedposition.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the presentinvention enables relatively large rugs to be conveniently and safelydisplayed, and that this result is attained through the use of a displaydevice that has adequate strength and yet may be readily assembled inthe display room in which it is to be used.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variationand modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to theprecise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changesand alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a rug display device, a sectional rectangular under framecomprising right and lefthand side frame sections and front and rear endframe sections, each of trapezoidal form affording inner and outerparalleled side elements and diverging end elements and adapted to besecured in an assembled relation with the adjacent end elements of therespective trapeaoidal sections secured together, means on the innerside elements of two oppositely located ones of said frame sections forsupporting intermediate struts, and a plurality of struts removablysecured to last mentioned means to extend between said two framesections, and leg structures 10 secured to and extending downwardly fromthe corners of said underframe.

2. In a rug display device, a supporting platform of a size somewhatlarger than the rugs to be displayed, a ilrst pair of leg structuressupporting two adjacent corners of said platform at one elevation, asecond pair of leg structures supporting the other adjacent corners ofsaid platform at a somewhat higher elevation, said second pair of legstructures each having one hollow and vertically disposed leg, whichlegs are spaced apart from one another a distance greater than the widthof the rugs to be displayed, a clamp bar extending across said platformover said second pair of leg structures, a stationary screw extendingvertically upwardly within each of said hollow legs, elongated sleevesrotatively mounted at opposite ends of said bar and extending verticallydownwardly into the associated hollow legs so as to iit about saidscrews in telescoping relation, nuts at the lower ends of said sleevesengaging said screws, the upper ends of said sleeves being adapted to betool operated to rotate said sleeves and operate the clamp bar.

3. In a rug display device, a sectional rectangular underframecomprising right and lefthand side frame sections and front and rear endframe sections, each of trapezoidal form alfording inner and outerparallel side elements and diverging end elements and adapted to besecured in an assembled relation with the ends of the trapezoidalsections secured together, means on certain o said frame sections forsupporting intermediate struts, a plurality of struts removably securedto the last mentioned means to extend between oppositely located framesections, and a rectangular outer frame bordering said frame sections inassembled relation, the outer ends of said end elements being ofchamfered V-shape to fit into the corresponding inner corners of saidouter frame whereby the top side of the outer frame may be disposed inthe same plane as the top side of said end elements, and means at saidcorners attaching the outer frame to the frame sections as a body.

4. In a rug display device, a sectional rectangular underframecomprising right and lefthand side frame sections and front and rear endframe sections, each of trapezoidal form affording inner and outerparalleled side elements and diverging end elements and adapted to besecured in an assembled relation with the adjacent end elements of therespective trapezoidal sections secured together, and a rectangularouter frame bordering said frame sections in assembled relation, theouter ends of said end elements being of chamfered V-shape to lit intothe corresponding inner corners of said outer frame whereby the top sideof the outer frame may be disposed in the same plane as the top side ofsaid end elements, and means at said corners attaching the outer frameto the frame sections as a body.

5. In a rug display device, a sectional rectangular underframecomprising right and lefthand side frame sections and front and rear endframe sections, each of trapezoidal form affording inner and outerparallel angle-iron side elements and diverging angle-iron end elementsand adapted to be secured in an assembled relation with the adjacentvertical flanges of the angle iron end elements of the respectivetrapezoidal sections secured together in face-toface relationship, meanson the inner side elements of two oppositely located ones of said 11frame sections for supporting intermediate struts, a plurality of strutsremovably secured to last mentioned means to extend between said twoframe sections.

6. In a rug display device, a sectional rectangular underframecomprising right and lefthand side frame sections and iront and rear endframe sections, each of trapezoidal form affording inner and outerparalleled angle-iron side elements and diverging angle-iron endelements and adapted to be secured in an assembled relation with theadjacent vertical anges of the angle iron end elements of the respectivetrapezoidal sections secured together in face-toface relationship, meanson the inner side elements of two oppositely located ones of said framesections for supporting intermediate struts, a plurality of strutsremovably secured to last mentioned means to extend between said twoframe sections, and a rectangular outer frame bordering said fra-mesections in assembled relation, the outer ends of said angle iron endelements being of chamfered V-shape to t into the corresponding innercorners of said outer frame with the top of the outer frame in the sameplane as the top of said angle-iron end elements.

7. In a rug display device, a supporting platform of a size somewhatlarger than the rugs to be displayed, a first pair of leg structuressupporting two adjacent corners of said platform at one elevation, asecond pair of leg structures supporting the other adjacent corners ofsaid platform at a somewhat higher elevation, said second pair of legstructures each having one hollow and vertically disposed leg, a clampbar extending across said platform over said second pair of legstructures, clamp screws disposed axially within the respective hollowlegs and anchored at their lower ends against rotative and longitudinaldisplacement, rotatable operating sleeves extended into the respectivehollow legs and having nuts at their lower ends threaded onto the clampscrews to permit said sleeves to be raised and lowered on the screws,said sleeves being open at their upper ends and being extended throughsaid clamp bar near the opposite ends thereof for rotation therein,operating pins extended diametrically across the open upper ends of saidsleeves whereby the sleeves may each be rotated relative to the clampbar by a tool applied to the pins, and means fixed on said sleeves bysaid pins above said clamp Ibar for transmitting downward clamping forceto said bar as the sleeves are raised and lowered on the screws.

8. In a rug display device, a supporting platform of a size somewhatlarger than the rugs to be displayed, a rst pair of leg structuressupporting two adjacent corners of said platform at one elevation, asecond pair of leg structures supporting the other adjacent corners ofsaid platform at a somewhat higher elevation, said second pair of legstructures each having one hollow and vertically disposed leg, a clampbar extending across said platform over said second pair of legstructures, a pair of clamping screws disposed axially within therespective hollow legs and anchored at their lower ends against rotativeand longitudinal displacement, and clamping sleeves rotatably mounted insaid clamp bar and extended down into said hollow legs and having athreaded engagement at their lower ends with the respective clamp screwswhereby the clamp bar may be drawn down in a clamping direction byrotating the clamping sleeves on the screws.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 817,374 Justus et al Apr. 10, 1906 1,241,768 Rush Oct. 2, 19171,299,783 Rush Apr. 8, 1919 1,329,357 Baxter Feb. 3, 1920 1,720,879 BestJuly '16, 1929 1,781,782 Kemp Nov. 18, 1930 1,807,158 Kemp May 26, 19312,137,748 Best Nov. 22, 1938 2,446,914 Fallert et al. Aug. 10, 1948FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 522,284 Great Britain June 13, 1940A

